Mammal | Define Mammal at Dictionary.com mammal noun 1. any vertebrate of the class Mammalia, having the body more or less covered with hair, nourishing the young with milk from the mammary glands, and, with the exception of the egg-laying monotremes, giving birth to live young. Origin of mammal Late Latin 1820-1830 1820-30; as singular of New Latin Mammalia neuter plural of Late Latin mammālis of the breast. See mamma 2, -al 1 Related forms Examples from the Web for mammal Expand Contemporary Examples But along with whales, their mammal cousins, dolphins may face more danger over the long term below the surface of the sea. The Artificial Womb Will Change Feminism Forever Samantha Allen August 11, 2014 Historical Examples It is as though one were to wish a fish to live out of water, or a mammal in an atmosphere containing no oxygen. Socialism: Positive and Negative Robert Rives La Monte Spotty isn't a mammal, as are all of you and all those we have been learning about, but is a reptile.

Socialism: Positive and Negative Robert Rives La Monte British Dictionary definitions for mammal Expand noun 1. any animal of the Mammalia, a large class of warm-blooded vertebrates having mammary glands in the female, a thoracic diaphragm, and a four-chambered heart. The class includes the whales, carnivores, rodents, bats, primates, etc Derived Forms C19: via New Latin from Latin mamma breast Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for mammal Expand n. 1826, anglicized form of Modern Latin Mammalia (1773), coined 1758 by Linnaeus for the class of mammals, from neuter plural of Late Latin mammalis "of the breast," from Latin mamma "breast," perhaps cognate with mamma .

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper mammal (mām'əl) Any of various warm-blooded vertebrate animals of the class Mammalia, whose young feed on milk that is produced by the mother's mammary glands. Unlike other vertebrates, mammals have a diaphragm that separates the heart and lungs from the other internal organs, red blood cells that lack a nucleus, and usually hair or fur. All mammals but the monotremes bear live young. Mammals include rodents, cats, dogs, ungulates, cetaceans, and apes. The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved. Egg-laying mammal - definition of egg-laying mammal by The Free Dictionary Egg-laying mammal - definition of egg-laying mammal by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Wikipedia .

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: monotreme prototherian - primitive oviparous mammals found only in Australia and Tasmania and New Guinea echidna , spiny anteater , anteater - a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to Australia echidna , spiny anteater , anteater - a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to New Guinea duckbilled platypus , duck-billed platypus , Ornithorhynchus anatinus , platypus , duckbill - small densely furred aquatic monotreme of Australia and Tasmania having a broad bill and tail and webbed feet; only species in the family Ornithorhynchidae Egg-laying mammals - crossword puzzle clues & answers - Dan Word «Let me solve it for you» Egg-laying mammals Today's crossword puzzle clue is a quick one: Egg-laying mammals. We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Here are the possible solutions for "Egg-laying mammals" clue.

It was last seen in American quick crossword. We have 1 possible answer in our database. Possible answer: Egg Laying Mammals List and Facts with Pictures Egg Laying Mammals List and Facts with Pictures By: Maria Saleem | 16 , Mar 2013 | Intersting Animals Ask/Tell About This Egg Laying Mammals Mammals are always thought of giving birth to young ones but sometimes it can be different too. Can you ever think of mammals laying eggs instead of giving birth to babies? Yes, there are egg laying mammals and they are known as monotremes. They are named so because of the presence of single cloacal opening in their bodies that serves as a passage for eggs or sperms, feces and urine. The tracts for urine, feces and sperms come straight to this cloaca and therefore these creatures are named as monotremes, meaning "one hole". All the members of the egg laying mammals list share some basic characteristics with one another. Number of Species As suggested by egg laying mammal facts, only five species of monotremes are extant, one of which is duck billed platypus and remaining four belong to the echidna family.

These echidnas are also called as spiny anteaters because they like to have ants and termites in their diet. Also, due to their pointing spines, they are called spiny anteaters. They are quite similar with other mammals in few things, but differ in most of the characteristics. Sometimes, they behave like reptiles, while at other times; they show the characteristics of birds. Natural Habitat These monotremes are, primarily, found in Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. The duck-billed platypus is purely aquatic while the echidnas are land-dwelling animals. The echidnas can easily be found in regions having moderate temperature like forests, hilly areas, high mountains, desserts, green lands and so on. Just like platypuses, the echidnas do not have teeth, and they remain active both during the day and the night time. Reproduction in Echidna A female echidna possesses a pouch in the body where she lays an egg and it takes almost 10 days for the egg to hatch. After hatching, a very small sized baby echidna comes out of the egg.

The baby is so small that it needs to spend three more months with mother in the pouch, and it is one of the prominent egg laying mammals facts. Their mother feeds them with the breast milk. Since female echidna does not have nipples, it is a little problematic for the baby to suck milk. The echidnas like to live alone except during the breeding season. Reproduction in Platypus Coming towards the reproduction side of platypus, female lays a couple of eggs in a hole that is especially dug for this purpose. All the platypuses are found in and around water because they mainly feed on the marine insects, their larvae and other small organisms. Male platypus becomes more active at the time of breeding as compared to normal days. Feeling any kind of danger during breeding season, they release poison for killing attackers to save the female platypus from any sort of harm. It takes almost a month for the female platypus to get pregnant. Fun Facts about Echidna Though many people may get scared from these spiny creatures, they themselves are, basically, very introvert and fearful. When feeling scared, they fold their legs into the body and assume a ball like shape.

In the folded position, they cannot see anything, and think that nobody is watching them, which is one of the funny and interesting facts about echidna. If an echidna is on the ground, it tries to dig a hole and hide itself in it. Fun Facts about Platypus Introduced in 1798 in Europe, the animals have several features like those of reptiles and birds. It possesses a bill just like ducks have beaks, and they also have feet. They also have a tail like that of beavers. The platypus uses its tail to swim in water and search for food, which includes various insects and fishes. Platypuses are pretty poisonous as well and they use this poison to protect themselves against the attackers. According to an estimate, the amount of poison released by a platypus is more than enough to kill a dog. An interesting fact about platypus is that their fur makes them waterproof, isn’t it amazing? They have smaller eyes and do not use them under water. Platypuses have no teeth and, that is why, their food is crushed by several plates in their mouth.

Differences between Platypus and Echidna Though the echidnas and platypuses share similarities as they both are monotremes, but there do exist certain differences between them. A female platypus lays eggs in the special holes or burrows while a female echidna, on the other hand, lays egg in her pouch. Female platypus can lay two eggs at a time while an echidna can lay only one egg at a time. There are many other differences in their body structure, feeding habits, diet and so on. Introduction to the Monotremata Echidna. Photo by Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © 2001 California Academy of Sciences. There are only five living monotreme species: the duck-billed platypus and four species of echidna (also known as spiny anteaters). All of them are found only in Australia and New Guinea. Monotremes are not a very diverse group today, and there has not been much fossil information known until rather recently. In some ways, monotremes are very primitive for mammals because, like reptiles and birds , they lay eggs rather than having live birth.

In a number of other respects, monotremes are rather derived, having highly modified snouts or beaks, and modern adult monotremes have no teeth. Like other mammals , however, monotremes have a single bone in their lower jaw, three middle ear bones, high metabolic rates, hair, and they produce milk to nourish the young. Click on the buttons below to learn more about Monotremes Read about monotremes at the University of Tasmania, who have one of the best sites on the web about living monotremes. Try the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web for more information about living monotremes. The Tasmanian Mammals page includes distributional information on monotremes. Describe the features of the following animals: fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. | eNotes Describe the features of the following animals: fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. ako6777 | Middle School Teacher | (Level 1) Associate Educator Posted on June 2, 2010 at 10:31 AM Fish are cold blooded (usually) animals that live in the water.

They are covered with scales and are equipped with two sets of paired fins. Fish exchange gases through their gills and most lay their eggs in water. Amphibians are cold blooded animals that morph from water breathing animals into air breathing animals, although some continue to breath water into adulthood. Some examples are frogs, toads, and salamanders. Amphibians typically have four limbs and they lay their eggs in water. Reptiles are cold blooded animals, that lay eggs, and breath through lungs. Some examples of reptiles are turtles, alligators, and crocodiles. Reptiles are covered with a horny epidermis which provides them with protection from prey. Mammals are air breathing animals that typically give birth to live young. Mammals are divided into three groups depending on how they were born. They may be classified as monotremes (egg layers), marsupials (pouched), and placentals (live births). Some examples of mammals are the bat, dog, and kangaroo. The mammal group is very diversified. Some swim (blue whale), some hop (kangaroo), and some fly (bat).

like 1 dislike 0 June 4, 2010 at 11:41 PM Fishes Fishes are vertebrate animals that live in water. Various kind of differ widely in shape colour and size. Thus different kind of fishes number more than all other kind of land and water vertebrates put together. Some fish look like lumpy rocks, and others like wriggly worms. Some fish are nearly as flat as pancakes, and others can blow themselves up like balloons. Many have many different colours that are as bright as those of the most brightly coloured birds. All fish have two main features in common. (1) They have a backbone, and so they are vertebrates. (2) They breathe mainly by means of gills. Nearly all fish are also cold-blooded animals.In addition, almost all fish have fins, which they use for swimming. All other water animals differ from fish in at least one of these ways. Amphibians Amphibians are a class of animals within the vertebrates. There are about 3,200 kinds of amphibians, which include species such as frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians.

Amphibians - with a few exceptions - live part of their life in water and part on land. They hatch from eggs laid in water or moist ground, and begin life as water-dwelling larvae. Over a period the larvae change into adults which look very different from the larvae. Most adults spend their lives on land. while some continue to live in water But almost all return to water to for mating. Amphibians are divided into three groups: (1) frogs and toads; (2) salamanders; and (3) caecilians. Reptiles Reptiles are cold blooded vertebrate animals with dry, scaly skin, who breathe by means of lungs There are about 6,500 species of reptiles, Reptiles include alligators, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, and the tuatara. Many reptiles live a long time, and some turtles have lived in captivity for more than 100 years. Reptiles live on every continent except Antarctica and in all the oceans except those of the polar regions. Birds Birds are animals with feathers. There are no other animals with feathers. Bird are generally able to fly and achieve great speed.

The fastest birds can fly at speed exceeding 160 kilometers per hour. However, not all birds can fly. There are about 9,300 species of birds. The smallest bird is the bee hummingbird, which is about 5 centimetres long. The largest bird is the ostrich, which may grow to about 2.5 metres height. Mammals Mammals are vertebrates that feeds its young on the mother's milk. There are about 4,500 kinds of mammals including human beings. Mammals live almost everywhere on land as well as in water. Blue whale, the largest animal that ever lived, is a mammal, measuring more than 30 metres long and weighing more than 150 tons. The smallest mammal is the Kitti's hog-nosed bat of Thailand which weighs only about 2 grams. Mammals differ from all or most other animals in five major ways. Mammals feed their babies on the mother's milk. Most mammals give their young more protection and training than other animals do. Only mammals have hair. All mammals have hair at some time in their life.

Mammals are warm-blooded Mammals have a larger, more well-developed brain than other animals do. like 0 dislike 0 What does egg-laying mammal mean?

definition, meaning and pronunciation (Free English Language Dictionary) Hypernyms ("egg-laying mammal" is a kind of...): prototherian (primitive oviparous mammals found only in Australia and Tasmania and New Guinea) Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "egg-laying mammal"): anteater ; echidna ; spiny anteater (a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to Australia) anteater ; echidna ; spiny anteater (a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and and claws for hunting ants and termites; native to New Guinea) duck-billed platypus ; duckbill ; duckbilled platypus ; Ornithorhynchus anatinus ; platypus (small densely furred aquatic monotreme of Australia and Tasmania having a broad bill and tail and webbed feet; only species in the family Ornithorhynchidae) Learn English with...

Proverbs of the week "Don't burn your bridges behind you." (English proverb) "He who gets the grace of the women is neither hungry nor thirsty" (Breton proverb) "An egg-thief will become a horse-thief." (Armenian proverb) "He who has nothing will not eat. If you want flour, go gather chestnuts." (Corsican proverb) EGG-LAYING MAMMAL: related words searches Glossary - Reference - A-Z Animals Xylophagous Animal Animals are a multi-celled living organisms that are thought to have to developed around 500 million years ago from single-celled marine organisms. The animals body shape generally becomes fixed once the animal reaches maturity although some species of animal undergo series metamorphosis in later life such as the caterpillar which grows wings. Most animals are generally motile which means that they are able to move in their own. Animals are also considered heterotrophs, which means that they must ingest other organisms to survive, either plant or animal organisms. There is no way of knowing exactly how many species of animal exist as so many are found or become extinct each year.

Estimates rate it at between 2 million and 50 million different species of animal on Earth. Antenna The sensory feel on the head of an arthropod. Antennae are always present in pairs and can be sensitive to touch, taste, sound and heat. The size and shape of antennae varies widely depending on the animal species and the way in which it's antennae are used. Antler The bony growth on the head of animals such as deer. Antlers are often much large than horns, branching out as they grow. In most cases, antlers are shed and re-grown every year in connection with the breeding season. Arboreal Locomotion Arboreal locomotion is the movement of animals in trees. In every habitat in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may only scale trees occasionally, while others are exclusively arboreal. These habitats pose numerous mechanical challenges to animals moving through them, leading to a variety of anatomical, behavioural and ecological consequences including the evolution of sharper claws and prehensile tails.. Furthermore, many of these same principles may be applied to climbing without trees, such as on rock piles or mountains.

Arthropod An arthropod is an invertebrate that has an external skeleton (exoskeleton), a segmented body, and jointed leg-like attachments called appendages. The arthropod groups includes insects, arachnids, and crustaceans. [Top] Asexual Reproduction A form of reproduction that involves just one parent, and is most common in invertebrates. Asexual reproduction means that a species can quickly multiply it's population numbers. Average Clutch Size The average number of eggs laif at once Average Life Span The average time the animal lives for Average Litter Size The average number of babies born at once Average Size The average measurement of how heavy the animal is Baleen A fibrous substance that is found in the mouths of some species of whale, which they use to filter food particles out of the water. The baleen plates grow out of the jaw in the same way as teeth, but trap food in the mouth which the whale then swallows. Binocular Vision When the two eyes face forwards their field of vision overlaps allowing the animal to judge depth. Biome A grouping of living organisms, including the habitat in which they are found.

Bipedal [Top] Bird Birds are warm blooded vertebrates that nest to lay their eggs, from which the bird offspring hatch. The birds skin is also covered in layers of feathers, to keep them warm but the feather also make the bird extremely light so it can fly without trouble. All birds have wings and most can fly over very long distance, some species of bird migrates thousands of mile every year, while others can only fly a few feet. The penguin is one of the only birds in the world that cannot fly as their wings are too small to lift their body. There are around 10,000 species of bird found worldwide, although studies suggest that many more species have become extinct. The bee hummingbird is the smallest species of bird in the world growing to around 5cm, with the ostrich being the largest species of bird and growing to nearly 3m tall. Blowhole The nostrils of a whale are on the top of their head, and can be pair or singular. Breaching When an animals leaps out of the water and falls back in with a splash. Breaching is often a behaviour displayed by large whales.

Brood Parasite When an animal (birds are common) tricks another species into raising it's young. Browsing Feeding on the leaves that are on trees, bushes and shrubs higher up rather than eating the grass and plants on the ground. [Top] Calcareous Calcareous (calcium) structures are shells, bones and exoskeletons that are created by many animals to provide both support and protection. Camouflage Colours or patterns are often displayed on an animal to help it to blend into it's surroundings. Animals use camouflage to both hide and protect themselves from approaching predators but also to sure that they are not spotted by unsuspecting prey. Canine Tooth Some mammals have canine teeth which are strong and sharply pointed teeth. Canine teeth are generally found at the front of the jaw and are used for piercing and biting prey. Carnassial Tooth Carnivorous mammals have a carnassial tooth which is a blade-like tooth that is designed to slice through flesh. Carnivore A carnivore is an animal that only eats other animals in order to ensure its own survival.

Carnivorous animals have a complex digestive system that has adapted to breaking large amounts of meat, and therefore do not need to feed as often as herbivorous and omnivorous animals. Lions, crocodiles and sharks are all good example of animals that are carnivores. The remains of dead animals. Cartilage Cartilage is a rubbery substance that helps to form part of the skeleton in vertebrates. Cellulose Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate found in plants that many animals find difficult to break down. Herbivorous grazing animals, are able to digest it with the help of micro-organisms. Chelicera Chelicerae are the first pairs of appendages of the front of an arachnids body. Some arachnids have pincers on the end and some spiders can inject venom through them. Chordate [Top] Chrysalis A hard and shiny case that protect insect pupa, that is often found attached to plants or buried in the soil. Circulatory System An animals circulatory system involves the animals heart, blood vessels and blood which flows around the animals body, transporting nutrients to cells that need them and removing waste products from others.

The blood is powered by the animals heart which beats on average around 100 times a minute (this obviously depends on the animal though). Class A level of classifying animals in a phylum. Classes are then sub-divided into further groups known as orders. Cloven-hoofed Animals such as deer and antelope have hooves that look like they are split in two. Cocoon Having a body temperate that is reliant on it's surroundings. Colony A group of animals from the same species, that spend their lives together and often have individual tasks that help with the overall survival of the colony. Colour The colour of the animal's coat or markings Compound Eye An eye that is divided up into separate compartments, each with its own set of lenses. Compound eyes are most commonly found in arthropods and can contain from a few to thousands of lenses. Conservation Status The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species: not simply the number remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates and known threats.

Scientifically, animals come into 9 different categories which are least concern, near threatened, conservation dependent, threatened, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild and extinct. A-Z Animals groups the animals into just four different categories which are least concern (covering the categories least concern, near threatened and conservation dependent), threatened (covering the categories threatened and vulnerable), endangered (covering the categories endangered, critically endangered and extinct in the wild) and extinct. Least Concern is a category assigned to extant species which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. Many common species are assigned to the least concern category but the species has to have been evaluated to be classified in the least concern category. Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. As such it is important to re-evaluate Near Threatened species often or at appropriate intervals. Conservation Dependent is a category assigned to extant species that rely on conservation efforts to prevent them from being threatened from extinction. Threatened species are any species of living organism which are vulnerable to extinction in the near future.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is the main authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories: vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered, depending on the degree to which they are threatened. Vulnerable species are species which are likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening their survival and reproduction improve. Endangered species are a population of organisms which are at risk of becoming extinct because they are either few in numbers, or threatened by environmental changes or changes in the behaviours of their predators. Many nations have laws offering protection to conservation reliant species: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves. Only a few of the many species at risk of extinction actually make it to the lists and obtain legal protection. Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining public notice. Critically Endangered species are organisms that are of an extremely high risk of becoming extinct in the wild or completely extinct in the immediate future. Extinct in the Wild is a conservation status assigned to species where the only known living members are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside it's historic and natural range. Extinct species no longer exist anywhere on Earth.

The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of that species. Large fin on the back of marine animals such as fish, sharks, whales and dolphins. Echinoderm Echinoderms are spiny-skinned invertebrates that are found on the ocean floor. Echinoderms are armoured animals that have a hard internal skeleton (endoskeleton) made up of plates and spines. Echinoderms are slow-moving creatures that have a water-vascular system which pumps water through the body. Echinoderms also have small jaws that are supported by the water-vascular system and tube feet which they use to attach to objects for protection, as well as to obtain food. Echinoderms generally have radial symmetry and most can regenerate lost limbs. Echolocation A way of sensing nearby objects by using pulse of high-frequency sound. Ecological Niche The term niche is used to describe an animals specific function or purpose within a certain habitat. Most species of animal play an integral part in keeping their surrounding ecosystem running, whether it be the spreading of seeds or predatory animals that hunt smaller species of animal.

Ecosystem The term ecosystem is used to describe the working together of different species of animal within a particular habitat, a good example of this being the basic food chain. An animal that lives on the surface of another animal's body, generally by sucking it's blood. Embryo A young animal in the first stages of development. Endoparasite An animal that lives inside another animal's body, both eat the tissues and food. Endoskeleton An internal skeleton that supports an animal's body and is generally made of bone. Environment The term environment is used to describe the conditions surrounding a certain organism as a whole. This includes everything from the social structure of life contained within that environment from animals to plants, but also is a method of describing how all the different organisms in one area interact with each other. The are numerous different environments throughout the world including desert environments, jungle environments and mountainous environments. The term environment basically refers to all living and non-living things in the world or a particular region. [Top] Evolution Evolution is the process by which different species of animals evolve, generally in accordance with natural selection and to make life more successful for the species.

For example, certain species of moth have known to completely change colour in just a few generations because of pollution, and the horse we know today evolved from having many toes, to just having a single toe today. Exoskeleton An external skeleton that supports and protects the animal's body. External Fertilisation Fertilisation that occurs outside of the womb, normally in water Extinct When the entire species has disappeared from Earth Family A level of classifying animals within an order. Orders are broken down in families and families are broken down further into smaller groups called genus. [Top] Femur The femur is the thigh bone in all vertebrates that have four limbs including elephants, lions and humans. Feral A feral animal is an animal that was brought up domestically but has then begun to live life in the wild. Fertilisation The meeting of a female animal's egg cell and a male animal's sperm, which creates a cell able of developing into a new animal. Filter Feeder An animal that feeds by extracting small particles of food out of the water. Fish Fish are cold blooded vertebrates that live in the waters of rivers, lakes and oceans worldwide.

Fish have scales covering their skin and usually an oily layer on the surface of the fishes skin, which helps to regulate the body of temperature of the fish. Fish have gills on the sides of their heads which allows the fish to breath underwater, due to their complex respiratory (breathing) system. There thought to be around 32,000 different species of fish found in freshwater and saltwater sources alike, with over 1,000 of these now considered to be critically endangered. Fish are a stable food source for many species of mammals, birds and reptiles around the world. The wings and tail feather of a bird that are used in flight. Flipper A flat paddle-shaped limb that many aquatic mammals have. Fluke Many whales and their relatives have a rubbery tail flipper which is known as a fluke. Foetus A developing animal that is nearing the time of birth. Food Chain An animal food chain is the sequence of who eats whom within an ecosystem in order for each animal to obtain nutrition. A food chain starts with the primary energy source, which is usually the sun and the food chain is then connected by a series of organisms that eat each other, in turn.

The food chain starts with the sun and is then followed by the primary producers, then the primary consumer, then the secondary consumer, followed by the tertiary consumer and finishing with the quaternary consumer which is generally an animal that is eaten by nothing else and is therefore the end of the food chain. Food chains are never the same as each ecosystem contains different organisms within it. If one part of the food chain is missing then there will be high population levels in the links before the missing part of the food chain, as nothing is eating them, and there will also be lower population levels in the links after the missing part in the food chain, as those animals have nothing to eat. The food chain is then said to be out of balance, so it is crucial for food chains to remain unaltered in order for balance within the animal kingdom to remain. [Top] Food Chain: 1. Primary Producer Primary producers are those organisms that require nothing but the natural resources of the Earth in order to thrive and survive. Primary producers tend to be plants that are photosynthetic and these plants use the energy provided by sunlight in order to make their own food using a process called photosynthesis.

Other primary consumers include bacteria that make their own food using chemicals that are produced in natural vents in the ocean. Primary producers are also known as autotrophs and are vital to the survival of the animals that follow in the next stages of the food chain. Food Chain: 2. Primary Consumer The primary consumers are the next stage in the food chain behind the sun and the primary producers. The primary consumers are the herbivorous animals of the world and consume the primary producers (autotrophs) in order to gain their nutrition. For example, an insect (primary consumer) will eat the seeds and sprouts that are provided by grass (primary producer). Primary consumers are also known as heterotrophs. Food Chain: 3. Secondary Consumer The secondary consumers link in with the food chain as they are the omnivorous animals that eat the primary consumers and the secondary consumers will occasionally eat the primary producers in order to supplement their diet. For example, a rat (secondary consumer) will eat an insect (primary consumer) that has gained its nutrition from eating the grass (primary producer). Secondary consumers are also known as heterotrophs. Food Chain: 4.

Tertiary Consumer The secondary consumers are followed by the tertiary consumers, the tertiary consumers tend to be the smaller carnivores of the animal kingdom. The tertiary consumers only eat meat and therefore really on the consistency of the secondary consumer populations in order to continue to thrive as a species. For example, a snake (tertiary consumer) will eat a rat (secondary consumer) that has gained its nutrition from eating an insect (primary consumer), and the insect has gained its nutrition from eating the grass (primary producer). Tertiary consumers are also known as heterotrophs. Food Chain: 5. Quaternary Consumer The final part to the food chain are the quaternary consumers, and these are the animals that tend to be large carnivores and dominant predators within their natural environment. Quaternary consumers generally have few, if any, natural predators at all and this tends to be where the food chain ends. For example, an eagle (quaternary consumer) will eat a snake (tertiary consumer), that has eaten a rat (secondary consumer), that has eaten an insect (primary consumer), that has eaten the grass (primary producer) that has used the energy from the sun in order to make food.

Sun --> Grass --> Insect --> Rat --> Snake --> Eagle Sun --> Phytoplankton --> Krill --> Squid --> Seal --> Polar Bear Food Web The interlinking of a collection of food chains from one habitat. Frugivorous An animal that feeds on fruit. Genus A level of classifying animals within a family. Families are divided into sub-groups called genus which generally contain one or two animal species. Gestation Period The gestation period is the time from conception to birth in which a mammal embryo is developing. The gestation period is different for almost every species of animal, for example, the gestation period for a human embryo is roughly 9 months but the gestation period for a kangaroo embryo is only around 30 days. Gill An external organ used by aquatic animals such as fish, to extract oxygen out of the water. Grazing Feeding on grass and ground-level plants and foliage. Group The domestic group such as cat or dog Habitat The term habitat is used to describe a specific area where a particular animal lives, within an environment.

Many animals have adapted to requiring specific conditions which can only be found in their natural habitat such as those animals that live in the polar regions that have longer, thicker body fur to keep them warm. Herbivore A herbivore is an animal that only eats plant material, algae and bacteria in order to gain its nutrition. Those animals that are herbivorous have adapted to digest plant material specifically, such as elephants, donkeys and rabbits. Hermaphrodite An animal that has both male and female reproductive organs so that it is able to self-fertilize. Hibernation When an animal hibernates, it isn't as simple as the animal just sleeping for a long time. When an animal sleeps, the animals brain is still active so the animal is able to move around in their sleep and can also wake up quickly. When an animal hibernates, the animals heart rate slows down, the animals body temperature drops as it is exposed to cold surroundings and the animals breathing slows down meaning that the animal takes longer than usual to wake up. The animal spends the months before it hibernates eating lots of food to make sure its body has enough energy to survive the winter.

Some animals are in hibernation for the duration of the winter meaning they don't wake up at all, others wake up every few weeks to have a snack and walk about before going back into hibernation. Home Range The area that an animal or group of animals lives in. Horn A hard, pointed growth on the head of some mammals. Host A parasite that attacks other parasites. Incisor Tooth A flat tooth at the front of a mammal's jaw that is used for gnawing and slicing food. Incubation Period The incubation period is the time from when an animal egg is laid to when it hatches. The term incubation period is used to refer to all egg laying mammals like fish, birds and reptiles but also to the platypus and the echidna which are the only egg laying mammals on earth. The incubation period varies between animal species from the incubation period of a penguin egg which is around 60 days to the incubation period of the an iguana egg which is between three and four months. Insect Insects are invertebrate arthropods, which means that the insects body is made up of sections of shell rather than bones.

There are more than 1 million described species of insect found worldwide, but estimates suggest there to be around 30 million different species of insect still left to identify. Insects are found in every habitat around the world from the deserts, to the jungles and in the mountains. Some species of insect also live in or around water such as the mosquito and the dragonfly. Insects generally have a lifespan that is less than a year, although some types of insects such as beetles, have been known to live for more than a few years. Insectivore Fertilisation that occurs inside the body of the female. Introduced Species A species that has been accidentally or purposefully been introduced, by humans, into an eco-system where it is not found naturally. Invertebrate Invertebrates are animals that do not have a spinal column (back bone), which surprisingly accounts for around 98% of the worlds described animals with the exception of mammals, reptiles, birds and bony fish all of which have a spinal column and are therefore classified as vertebrates, making up the final 2% of described animals. Keel An enlargement of the breastbone in birds, that secures the muscles during flight.

Keratin [Top] Kingdom A level of classifying all living things on earth, as similar species are broken into 5 groups including plants, animals and fungi. Larva A young insect that is independent of an looks very different from the adult form. Insect larva become adults through a metamorphic process. Life Span How long the animal lives for Lifestyle Whether the animal is solitary or sociable Mammal Mammals are warm blooded vertebrates that have mammary glands, which means that the females are able to produce milk to feed their young. Mammals are also the only animal group that gives bird to live young, where the others all lay eggs. Mammals are generally land-dwelling animals but there are exceptions like the blue whale, which is the worlds largest mammal and grows to around 20 times the size of the biggest land mammal, the African elephant, average about 33 meters in length.. The smallest mammal in the world is the bumble bee bat which is only 3.5 cm tall. There are approximately 5,400 different species of mammal found worldwide. The paired jaws of an arthropod such as ants, crabs and spiders.

Melon A large swelling of fatty-fluid that is found in the heads of many toothed whales, that is believed to improve sound focus used in echolocation. Metabolic Rate The rate of an animal's metabolism can be affected by many factors including size and energy. Metabolism A mixture of chemical processes that occur within the body of an animal to either release energy (breaking down food) or to consume it (muscle movement). Metacarpal The metacarpal is one of a set of bones that is found in either or the arm or the leg in all vertebrates with four limbs. The complete change in body shape when certain animals move from being young animals into adults. Metatarsal The metatarsal is one of a set of bones found in the back of the leg in all vertebrates with four limbs. Migration The migration of animals is generally connected with the seasons and involves with travelling between one place and another, often along a well-known route. Mimicry When one animal attempts to camouflage itself by resembling another animal or an object such as a leaf or a stick. Molar Tooth A flattened or ridged tooth found at the back of the jaw in mammals, that is used for chewing.

[Top] Mollusc Molluscs are a group of animals that are found in both marine and freshwater habitats. There are nearly 100,000 different species of animal in the mollusc group, which makes up more than 20% of animal life in the water. The octopus and the squid are both molluscs. Monogamous Mating with a single partner for life or throughout the breeding season. Moult The shedding of fur, feathers, scales and skin so that it can be renewed and replaced. Natural Environment The term environment is used to describe everything in a certain area. This includes the terrain such as mountains and deserts, the natural elements that are found there like water and metal, the climate and all the living and non-living things in that area like animals, plants and objects. Natural Selection The term natural selection refers to the the process where heritable traits that make it more likely for an organism to survive long enough to reproduce become more common over successive generations of a population.

This can include anything from the exterior appearance of an organism (for example those that are most easily camouflaged tend to fair better) to the temperament of an organism (for example, a lion would have more difficulty in hunting prey if it was irrational and clumsy in behaviour instead of being stealthy and systematic in it's actions). Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution. North, Central and South America. New World Monkeys New World monkeys are the five families of primates that are found in Central and South America. New World monkeys differ from other groupings of monkeys and primates, such as the Old World monkeys and the apes, mainly in the fact that New World monkeys tend to be small to medium in size. The New World monkey group includes the world's smallest monkey, the pygmy marmoset. New World moneys are different from the Old World monkeys in many ways, including the fact that the nose of New World monkeys is flat and has side facing nostrils, the lack of opposable thumbs and due to the fact that most New World monkeys are arboreal, they often have prehensile tails. Niche An animal's place or role in it's habitat.

Nocturnal If an animal is nocturnal it means that the animal tends to sleep during the daylight hours and wakes up to hunt when night falls. Raccoons, koalas and hedgehogs are all considered to be nocturnal animals. Number of Species [Top] Nymph A young insect that is similar in appearance to it's parents but it does not yet have functioning organs or is able to fly. Old World Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Old World Monkeys The Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia today, inhabiting a range of environments from tropical rain forest to savannah, scrubland, and mountainous terrain, and are also known from Europe in the fossil record. However, a (possibly introduced) free-roaming group of monkeys still survives in Gibraltar (Europe) to this day. Old World monkeys include many of the most familiar species of non-human primates such as baboons and macaques. Old World monkeys tend to be medium to large in size and tend to have a predominantly herbivorous diet preferring to eat plant matter rather than other animals. Old World monkeys are known to have an opposable thumb and rarely have prehensile tails.

Omnivore An omnivore is an animal that eats both plant material and other animals in order to get enough food. Animals that are omnivores have complex digestive systems that are able to deal with both plant animal material equally well, like kangaroos, otters and humans. Opposable Digits that are able to be pressed together from opposite directions, like thumbs in humans and apes. The perfect acidity conditions for the animal Order A level used to classify animals. Classes are broken into sub-groups known as order, which are broken down further into families. Organ A structure found in an animal's body that is made up of tissues and does a specific task. Organism In biological terms, an organism is used to describe a living thing whether animal, plant, fungi or micro-organisms. Some organisms are single-celled organisms meaning that they consist of one cell that has a central nerve in the middle, for example bacteria. Other organisms are multi-celled organisms meaning that they consist of many cells all working together, for example humans. Origin An animal that lives on or inside another animal. Paratoid Gland A gland found behind the eyes of some amphibians that secretes poison onto the surface of their skin.

Partial Migrant An animal species where some individuals migrate but others don't. Pectoral Fin One of the two pairs of fins that are found at the front of the body of a fish. [Top] Pelvic Fins The last pair of fins on the body of a fish, found on the underside, close to the tail. Pheromone A chemical produced by an animal which has an effect on animals from the same species but also on other animal species too. Photosynthesis The chemical process which plants use to create energy. Phylum A level of classifying animals within the animal kingdom. Phylum are further divided into subgroups called classes. Pinna [Top] Placenta An organ that is produced by a developing animal that allows it to absorb nutrients from the mother's bloodstream when it is in the womb. Plankton Floating microscopic organisms that drift close to the surface of the sea in open water. Polygamous When male animals often made with several female animals throughout the breeding season. Predator When an animal is referred to as a predator, it means that the animal either hunts or catches other animals. Predatory animals are generally dominant within their environment and will generally hunt animals smaller than themselves.

Predators [Top] Prehensile Prehensile is the term that is given the appendages of animals that have evolved to grasp or hold onto things. For example, some species of monkey and most species of lizard have prehensile tails which allows them to hold onto tree branches with their tails so that they can reach down to collect food. Most species of primates have prehensile hands and cats are known to have prehensile claws. The tongues of many animals are prehensile, particularly that of the giraffe. Elephants and tapirs are known to have prehensile noses, and horses and rhinos have prehensile lips. Premolar Tooth A specialised tooth that is found about half-way along the jaw in mammals, that is often used for slicing through flesh. Prey When an animal is referred to prey, it means that the animal is either hunted or caught for food. Animals that are referred to as prey are generally hunted by bigger animals, although there are a number of exceptions. Proboscis The nose of an animal, or parts of the mouth which are nose-like in shape.

Pupa In stage in the development of insects when the body of the larva is broken down and turned into the body of an adult. Movement on four limbs. Reproduction Reproduction is the biological process by which new individual organisms are produced. Reproduction is a fundamental feature of all known life as each individual organism exists as the result of reproduction. Reproduction requires a male and female counterpart in order to create new offspring. Reptile Reptiles are cold blooded vertebrates that have scales covering their skin rather than hair or feathers. Reptiles are found on every continent worldwide with the exception of the polar Antarctica. There are more than 8,000 species of recorded reptile split into four main groups.

The order Crocodilia contains 23 species that are crocodiles, gavials, caimans, and alligators; the order Sphenodontia are the tuatara from New Zealand, of which there are 2 different species; the order Squamata is lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenids or worm-lizards, of which there are approximately 7,900 species; the order Testudines covers turtles, tortoises, and terrapins with around 300 species found worldwide. Reptiles are also egg laying animal and are known to bask for long hours during the day in the hot sun to heat up the reptiles cold blood, so the reptile has enough energy to hunt at night. Respiratory System All animals have a respiratory system which allows the animal to take in oxygen from the environment (breath in) that the animals blood needs to stay healthy. The process of respiration produces carbon dioxide as a waste product, which is then eliminated from the animal (breath out) and back into the environment. Ruminant A hoofed and herbivorous mammals that has a specialised digestive system with more than one stomach chamber.

Egg | Define Egg at Dictionary.com (transitive) usually foll by on. to urge or incite, esp to daring or foolish acts Word Origin Old English eggian, from Old Norse eggja to urge; related to Old English ecgedge, Middle Low German eggen to harrow Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for egg Expand n. mid-14c., from northern England dialect, from Old Norse egg, which vied with Middle English eye, eai (from Old English æg) until finally displacing it after 1500; both are from Proto-Germanic *ajja(m) (cf. Old Saxon, Middle Dutch, Dutch, Old High German, German ei, Gothic ada), probably from PIE *owyo-/*oyyo- "egg" (cf.

Old Church Slavonic aja, Russian jajco, Breton ui, Welsh wy, Greek oon, Latin ovum); possibly derived from root *awi- "bird." Caxton (15c.) writes of a merchant (probably a north-country man) in a public house on the Thames who asked for eggs: And the goode wyf answerde, that she coude speke no frenshe. And the marchaunt was angry, for he also coude speke no frenshe, but wolde have hadde egges, and she understode hym not. She did, however, recognize another customer's request for "eyren." Bad egg in the figurative sense is from 1855. To have egg on (one's) face "be made to look foolish" is attested by 1948. [Young & Rubincam] realize full well that a crew can sometimes make or break a show. It can do little things to ruin a program or else, by giving it its best, can really get that all-important rating.

They are mindful of an emcee of a variety show who already has been tabbed "old egg in your face" because the crew has managed to get him in such awkward positions on the TV screen. ["Billboard," March 5, 1949] Eggs Benedict attested by 1898. The figure of speech represented in to have all (one's) eggs in one basket is attested by 1660s. v. c.1200, from Old Norse eggja "to goad on, incite," from egg "edge" (see edge (n.)). The unrelated verb meaning "to pelt with (rotten) eggs" is from 1857, from egg (n.). Related: Egged; egging. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper egg (ěg) The larger, usually nonmotile female reproductive cell of most organisms that reproduce sexually. Eggs are haploid (they have half the number of chromosomes as the other cells in the organism's body).

During fertilization, the nucleus of an egg cell fuses with the nucleus of a sperm cell (the male reproductive cell) to form a new diploid organism. In animals, eggs are spherical, covered by a membrane, and usually produced by the ovaries. In some simple aquatic animals, eggs are fertilized and develop outside the body. In some terrestrial animals, such as insects, reptiles and birds, eggs are fertilized inside the body but are incubated outside the body, protected by durable, waterproof membranes (shells) until the young hatch. In mammals, eggs produced in the ovaries are fertilized inside the body and (except in the cases of monotremes) develop in the reproductive tract until birth. The human female fetus possesses all of the eggs that she will ever have; every month after the onset of puberty, one of these eggs matures and is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube, where it is either fertilized or discarded during menstruation. In many plants (such as the bryophytes, ferns, and gymnosperms) eggs are produced by flasked-shaped structures known as archegonia. In gymnosperms and angiosperms, eggs are enclosed within ovules.

In angiosperms, the ovules are enclosed within ovaries. See also oogenesis . In many animals, a structure consisting of this reproductive cell together with nutrients and often a protective covering. The embryo develops within this structure if the reproductive cell is fertilized. The egg is often laid outside the body, but the female of ovoviviparous species may keep it inside the body until after hatching. The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved. [first sense altered fr the mid-19th-century term bad egg, ''bad or rotten person''] The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D. Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers. egg in the Bible Expand (Heb. beytsah, "whiteness"). Eggs deserted (Isa. 10:14), of a bird (Deut. 22:6), an ostrich (Job 39:14), the cockatrice (Isa. 59:5).

In Luke 11:12, an egg is contrasted with a scorpion, which is said to be very like an egg in its appearance, so much so as to be with difficulty at times distinguished from it. In Job 6:6 ("the white of an egg") the word for egg (hallamuth') occurs nowhere else. It has been translated "purslain" (R.V. marg.), and the whole phrase "purslain-broth", i.e., broth made of that herb, proverbial for its insipidity; and hence an insipid discourse. Job applies this expression to the speech of Eliphaz as being insipid and dull. But the common rendering, "the white of an egg", may be satisfactorily maintained. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Idioms and Phrases with egg Expand

Question: Which word is used to describe egg laying mammals?
Answer: MONOTREME